Volvo Bow thruster 50% working - any ideas?
 

Just picked up boat from marina where they did a service and the like. 50%
of way back I noticed that the bow thruster only worked pushing to port.
Unit is a Volvo with 4 batteries supporting the 24-volt supply. Service
marina indicates that failure is purely a coincidence! I realize it could be
a coiincidence, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on diagnostics and remedy.
[I'd really want to avoid hauling a 53' boat for $500 to find it is a
solenoid!]

Thoughts or opinion?

Dave

Volvo Bow thruster 50% working - any ideas?
 

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Just picked up boat from marina where they did a service and the like. 50%
of way back I noticed that the bow thruster only worked pushing to port.
Unit is a Volvo with 4 batteries supporting the 24-volt supply. Service
marina indicates that failure is purely a coincidence! I realize it could
be a coiincidence, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on diagnostics and
remedy. [I'd really want to avoid hauling a 53' boat for $500 to find it
is a solenoid!]

Thoughts or opinion?

Dave




I would guess it is electrical, and no need to pull the boat. Check the
wires going to the thruster inside the boat and see if the voltage reverses
when reversing thrust. See if any voltage on reverse thrust. Since the
motor works one way, will not be the motor.

Volvo Bow thruster 50% working - any ideas?
 

"Dave Isherwood" wrote in message
...
Just picked up boat from marina where they did a service and the like. 50%
of way back I noticed that the bow thruster only worked pushing to port.
Unit is a Volvo with 4 batteries supporting the 24-volt supply. Service
marina indicates that failure is purely a coincidence! I realize it could
be a coiincidence, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on diagnostics and
remedy. [I'd really want to avoid hauling a 53' boat for $500 to find it
is a solenoid!]

Thoughts or opinion?

Dave


Your problem sounded instantly familiar until I re-read it and realized you
said the thrusters were built by Volvo. I have SidePower systems on my
boat (bow and stern) and have experienced a similar problem. Turns out
there is a solid state DPDT relay in the joystick controller that is prone
to going bad. I have upper and lower controls, dual thruster joysticks at
both stations and one by one all the relays have gone bad over the past 6-7
years.

Eisboch